Hi Top, I find your post very interesting and relatable. I went to college/university later in life and not right out of high school.

When I left high school I had no idea what I wanted to be “when I grew up” and I had very few interests. I decided to go for a college degree when I was 21-22, I went to a community college and just took some random classes to decide what I like. At that time psychology was a big interest of mine. I then discovered that with all the classes I was taking I still didn’t really “know” what I wanted to be. I ended up getting engaged and stopped going to college.

Fast-forward about 5-years, I decided to try college again. I went back to a community college to become a medical transcriptionist (a 2-year degree). While going through those classes I still was not sure that this was what I really wanted. Then I came across a 4-year degree that was much more interesting, so I decided to go ahead and go for the 4-year degree. I graduated with my 4-year degree when I was 31.

I am currently working in a position that 1) has nothing to do with my degree and 2) I have no interest in, so I am looking at returning to school (while still working full-time) to pursue a graduate degree. The graduate degree I am looking at pursuing is somewhat similar to what my Bachelor’s degree is, but it still is a bit different, but I know now that is where my passion is.

My point is that I am almost 36 and I just realized what I really want to be “when I grow up.” I found going to college later in life was much more fulfilling because I knew my interests better and I driven. I was much more appreciative of my education as well. I found that many fellow students that were just coming out of high school were not has appreciative and didn’t really care about their education. Many were in programs that their parents wanted for them and not what they wanted. Many continued and many changed programs, which meant for a possible longer college career, but they were happier. I know some people that switched their degrees multiple times because they just didn’t know what they wanted.

I know here in the US the first 2-years of college are all basic “core” classes, not many that are specific to your degree/program. It sounds like you may be in another country, so I am not familiar with how things are set-up. If it is similar to the US where many classes are just the basic classes can you take other classes that are more interest to you? Like someone else stated, can you minor in what your interests are? Can you change your program and just go for what interests you?

In my time I have found that many people that go for college educations, something that seems to pretty much be needed for any job in the US, end up doing jobs that are unrelated to their degrees (like me). It is sometimes hard to find the “perfect” job in your interested field right out of college. If you add to that having a degree in a profession that you have no interest in it may be even more difficult to find the “perfect” job.

I am not trying to detour you from continuing your education, in fact I think more education is very important in today’s society. What I am trying to say is that whatever you decide to do it does not mean that it is permanent. Things change with life experience. My advice to you is to go for your interests, go for what makes you happy and does not add unneeded stress. If you parents are funding your education talk with them and let them know that you want to change degrees because it makes you so unhappy where you are now. Supportive parents will understand and want you to be happy. If you get out into the “real world” and have a hard time finding a job it is not the end of the world.

Education is always there to go back to. Life experiences may show you something that interests you that is completely out there and at this time you have no clue it even interests you (that has been my experience). The importance is that you are happy and having a fulfilling life. I know many people that have careers that they do not like and go home every night crying because they are so unhappy, I have been one of these people as well.

I wish you well in your decisions. It is a tough spot to be in and you are by no means the first to be in this position. I am sure there are many other students around you that are dealing with their own struggles, maybe reach out to some of them and see what they are doing. If your college has a career advising center go seek help from them. If there is counseling available at your college seek help from them too.

Talk with your parents, let them know how you are feeling, open, honest communication is important with your parents. Being a parent myself now, I urge our son (11) to be open and honest with us about his life and we let him know that we support anything that he wants to do, we just want him to be happy. If he wants to work at McDonald’s being a cashier and that makes him happy, then we are fine with that. Granted, that is not what my husband and I think is best for him, but his happiness is more important.

Good luck! Take care!